MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP … The Missouri Municipal League Board of Directors has established a scholarship program to assist those employed in municipal government with furthering their education. The program provides five, $500 college scholarships to be issued on a statewide basis. Graduate or undergraduate students may apply as long as the institution is accredited. The applicant must be a full-time employee of an MML member municipality, and must be endorsed in writing by either the city manager/administrator or mayor. Only one applicant will be considered per city. The application deadline is May 18, 2018. The MML Scholarship Committee will select scholarship winners in early June. The application form is available on the League’s website.

REGISTER NOW! 2018 ELECTED OFFICIALS TRAINING CONFERENCE … The Missouri Municipal League will be conducting the Elected Officials Training Conference June 7-8, 2018, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. Conference sessions will emphasize the knowledge base all elected officials need to govern effectively, such as personnel law, ethics, economic development, planning and zoning, and more. Changes that continually occur in the municipal arena make this a Conference that all officials (not just newly elected!) should attend! The hotel block deadline is May 21. Learn more and register.

SMART RURAL COMMUNITY SHOWCASE AWARD … The Smart Rural Community Showcase Award honors rural communities that have achieved high levels of broadband activity and have used it to support innovative practices in industry sectors such as healthcare, education, public safety, utilities, civic engagement and commerce. Applications are due July 1, 2018. Learn more.

NEW ST. CHARLES COUNTY MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OFFICERS ... At the recently held St. Charles County Municipal League meeting in Lake Saint Louis, the organization elected the following new officers: Willie Richter, president, West Alton; Rocky Reitmeyer, first vice president, St. Peters; Patrick Barclay, second vice president, St. Peters; John Hanneke, treasurer, St. Charles; and Judy Bateman, immediate past president, St. Peters.

MISSOURI RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS SURVEY … Missouri Rural Development Partners (MRDP) is Missouri’s federally authorized state rural development council. MRDP is committed to linking key agencies and organizations that serve rural Missouri to facilitate an understanding of what the agencies and organizations offer and how we can work together to address the needs of rural Missouri. An annual Missouri survey helps inform MRDP about key issues and needs, as well as stakeholders and partners across the state. The 2018 survey is underway, and MRDP seeks your participation. Click here to take the 2018 Survey! The final report on the 2017 survey can be found here.

MISSOURI COMMUNITY BETTERMENT AWARDS … Missouri Community Betterment (MCB) is accepting submissions for their organization’s 2018 Awards program. Learn more and apply by June 30, 2018.

ANNUAL CENSUS OF MISSOURI PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS AVAILABLE ... The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announces the availability of the 2018 Annual Census of Missouri Public Water Systems during national Drinking Water Week. This report defines the quality and safety of drinking water provided by Missouri's 2,732 public water systems for 2017. The department is required to produce a census annually under the Missouri Revised Statutes, Title XL, Chapter 640, Section 640.120. To obtain a copy of the 2018 Census of Missouri Public Water Systems, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-0135 or download a copy at dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/census.

FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING WORKSHOPS … The Department of Natural Resources, the United States Department of Agriculture-Rural Development, and the Department of Economic Development announced a series of free, educational funding workshops throughout Missouri this summer. These sessions will be an opportunity for community leaders, planners and elected officials to learn how to plan for drinking water and wastewater compliance challenges, pay for the improvements, and construct wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects from agencies that offer financial assistance programs for these publicly-owned systems. Workshops are scheduled in Poplar Bluff, Lee’s Summit, Clinton, Macon and West Plains. Register here for these free events.

LEADERSHIP, ETHICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES … Now in its sixth year, the Public Ethics Conference takes place May 31, 2018, in St. Louis, Missouri. The event is designed to bring together public officials, regional civic and private sphere leadership, academics, journalists, the interested public and students around a conversation on ideal political process. This year’s focus is the structure and functioning of political parties and party leadership. Learn more.

AGA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT … The Association of Government Accountants, St. Louis Chapter, is hosting a professional development training May 31, 2018, in Earth City, Missouri. Topics include fraud risk management, data analytics, stress reduction and more. Learn more and register.

WIFIA TRAININGS … The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program hosts webinars and information sessions for prospective borrowers to foster a greater understanding of the WIFIA program requirements and pave the way for successful applications to the program. A series of webinars will take place in April and May to help explain the process. Learn more.

The program is now accepting letters of interest for up to $5.5 billion in loans. Letters of interest must be submitted by July 6, 2018. Learn more at https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

MISSOURI DIGITAL GOVERNMENT SUMMIT … Missouri’s Digital Government Summit will take place June 13, 2018, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Each year, local and state government leaders gather to learn best practices and innovations on topics of leadership, digital government trends, emerging technologies and more. Learn more and register.

JAY T. BELL AWARD ... Congratulations to City Manager Amy Hamilton, Richmond Heights, on receiving the Jay T. Bell Award for professionalism, high standards of accomplishment and ethical conduct! Hamilton received the award at the spring meeting of the Missouri City/County Managers Association (MCMA) in May. The award is the Association's highest honor for members.

RICHARD NOLL AWARD ... Congratulations to Assistant City Administrator Sharon Stott, Creve Coeur, honored with the Richard R. Noll Award for professionalism, high standards of accomplishment and ethical conduct. Stott received the award at the Missouri City/County Managers Association (MCMA) in May.

SENIOR SERVICE AWARD … Congratulations to Marilyn Powell, city council member with New London, for being honored with Lt. Gov. Mike Parson’s Senior Service Award! Your long-term committed service is appreciated! Read article.

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT AWARD ... The Missouri Government Finance Officers Association selected Linda Flinn, treasurer of Troy, Missouri, as this year’s recipient of the Missouri GFOA Excellence in Government Award. The award was presented at the National GFOA annual meeting, held this year in St. Louis. The award is sponsored byPiper Jaffray and presented to the government finance professional in Missouri who displays the high standard of leadership, professionalism, ethics, and integrity promoted by Missouri GFOA. Congratulations Linda!

FTA ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT VEHICLES …Application deadline: June 18, 2018;
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $84.45 million of FY2018 funds for the purchase or lease of low or no emission vehicles, as well as related equipment or facilities. The main purpose of the Low-No Program is to support the transition of the nation's transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction and leasing of required supporting facilities. Eligible applicants are local governmental authorities, a designated recipient of FTA grants, states and Indian Tribes. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov website by June 18, 2018.

U.S. DOT ANNOUNCES NEW BUILD TRANSPORTATION GRANTS PROGRAM … Application Deadline: July 19, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is inviting communities to apply for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) transportation grants program. BUILD replace the pre-existing Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. BUILD grants are for investments in surface transportation infrastructure and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. Funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation. At least 30 percent of funds must be awarded to projects located in rural areas.

NEA OUR TOWN GRANTS …Application deadline Aug. 9, 2018
Is your town doing some creative place making? Want to start? Here is a grant opportunity from the National Endowment for the Arts. Through Our Town projects, the National Endowment for the Arts intends to achieve the objective of strengthening communities by providing opportunities for the arts to be integrated into the fabric of community life.
The Our Town Grant application and guidelines are now posted. Matching grants for creative place making projects range from $25,000 to $200,000. The application deadline is Aug. 9, 2018 for projects that will start on or after July 1, 2019. Learn more.

ROADMAPS TO HEALTH COACHING … Application dates ongoing
Sponsored by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this program offers guidance and support from a community coach for communities who want to improve the health of their populations and work toward building a culture of health. Learn more.

EDA DISASTER FUNDING … Application dates ongoing
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently published the FY18 “Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity” (NOFO), making $587 million available to eligible grantees in communities where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued under the Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and other natural disasters in 2017. There are no application deadlines and the agency will accept proposals on a rolling basis until the publication of a new Disaster Supplemental NOFO, cancellation of this NOFO, or all funds are obligated. Disaster recovery projects must be consistent with the U.S. Department of Commerce Disaster Recovery Investment Priorities. EDA disaster grants are made by its Regional Offices under the agency’s Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program. For more information, please visit the EDA and Disaster Recovery page.

WATER YOU WAITING FOR? … Nominate your local government water project to share your success stories with local leaders around the world! Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) is passionate about the free and open exchange of ideas where local governments can learn from one another to be most successful. When local leaders share their success stories, everybody wins. This is especially true on expensive and complex public works projects, so ELGL is partnering with The Atlas Marketplace to collect and share details about the best water projects in the nation. This contest is free to enter and winning projects will be selected by popular vote. Entering the contest will feature your project on the ELGL and Atlas websites, both for information and voting. Learn more and add your project online.

CELEBRATE PRESERVATION MONTH ... Missouri Main Street is partnering with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to Celebrate Preservation Month in Missouri during May 2018. We are excited to highlight four Missouri historic sites and nine Missouri Main Street Communities who are working diligently to preserve their historic resources. Through this project, we hope to encourage Missouri citizens of all ages to learn more about the history surrounding them, discover new sites and communities, and understand the importance of preserving our history and historic places for generations to come. All Missourians are invited to visit these sites and communities in a celebration of our heritage and preservation efforts. See the calendar of events and join the Celebrate Preservation Month roadshow at stops near you!